"The Bomb" condenser microphone manufactured by Standard Telephone & Cables Ltd, 1931-1935. Unusually-shaped early condenser microphone. The tear-drop shaped aluminum case hides the amplifying valve and electronics as well as the capsule.

From 1931 to 1935, the BBC used this streamlined condenser microphone known as "the bomb", which employed an STC/ Western Electric capsule with a BBC pre-amplifier. This type of microphone was often used by the Prince of Wales (King Edward VIII) in broadcasts. It appears in many photos of the Baird/BBC 30-line studios at Broadcasting House and 16 Portland Place.

Before miniature valves became available, the need to provide a pre-amplifier near the capsule of a capacitor microphone could lead to excessively large assembly. In this example, the shape of the casing was designed to minimise the acoustic ill-effects of its large size.